Book Review and Giveaway: “Love Gone Mad” by Mark Rubinstein (US, Ends 10/5)

About the Story

Adrian Douglas is a heart surgeon, choosing his profession after watching helplessly as his father died of a heart attack.  Megan Haggarty is a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit, also choosing her career because of childhood circumstances.  They meet in the hospital and are drawn together by a mutual chemistry and attraction.  But as they date, strange things begin happening.  Megan receives flowers with an unsigned card, Adrian notices slight changes and things moved around in his home.  Megan suspects it is the actions of her ex-husband, Conrad, returning to stalk her.  He is a huge muscular man, with eyes that remind Adrian of the dead eyes of a shark.  And worse, Conrad vows to exact revenge for what he sees as the ultimate betrayal.  As things spin out of control, Megan and Adrian fight for their lives.  When a spine-tingling trial for attempted murder is resolved, things return to normal – or so it seems.  But more chilling surprises await the couple as Love Gone Mad rockets to a conclusion that brings the legal, medical, and psychiatric communities to their knees.

About the Author

Mark Rubinstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. His love of sports led him to read sports fiction, and soon he became a voracious reader, developing an enduring love for all kinds of novels.  After graduating from New York University with a degree in business administration, he served in the army and ended up as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was so taken with these experiences that after his discharge, he re-entered NYU as a premed student.

He entered medical school at the State University of New York’s Downstate Medical Center. As a medical student, he developed an interest in psychiatry, discovering in that specialty the same thing he realized in reading fiction: every patient has a compelling story to tell. He became a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in New York City.

In addition to running his private practice he developed an interest in forensic psychiatry because the drama and conflict of the cases and courtrooms tapped into his personality style. He also taught psychiatric residents, interns, psychologists, and social workers at New York Presbyterian Hospital and became a clinical assistant professor at Cornell University’s medical school.

Rubinstein lives in Connecticut with his wife and as many dogs as she will allow in the house. He still practices psychiatry and is busily writing more novels. Mad Dog House, his first novel, was named a Finalist for the 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award (Thriller & Suspense).

My Take

My first impression of Love Gone Mad was that it was a well-written, well-crafted book.  Mr. Rubinstein’s choice of words is done with the artistry of a master.  The writing style overshadowed the story in the first pages, but then he proved that he is not only a brilliant writer, but also an expert storyteller.  With a background in psychiatry, medicine, and law, he uses his knowledge of the human mind to create characters that are almost more than three dimensional.  A true wordsmith, he leads us through the thoughts and actions of the couple falling in love, without giving us a glimpse into the mind of the stalker.  By doing so, he creates fear and suspense.  As readers, we know what is happening with Adrian and Megan – their thoughts, feelings, and hopes.  But Conrad, Megan’s ex-husband is impenetrable, we only know what Adrian and Megan know.  That gradually shifts as the twists of this fascinating story develop.   Surprises abound in this story and details make more sense as Adrian and Megan’s pasts keep coming up to haunt them.  The suspense keeps you turning pages and the intelligent story keeps you thinking about the possibilities.

What Others Say

“Love Gone Mad is a beautifully crafted suspense novel.  The characters are people you care about, the story is fast-paced and cleverly plotted….  This book is Stephen King scary.”  – Scott Pratt, bestselling author of the Joe Dillard series

“Mark Rubinstein has done it again with another psychological thriller guaranteed to raise goose bumps….  Love Gone Mad will keep you on the edge of your seat….  Be prepared for unexpected twists and turns that leave you exhilarated and begging for more.” – Judith Marks-White, author of Seducing Harry and Bachelor Degree

Giveaway

Enter in the Rafflecopter form below to win my gently read copy of “Love Gone Mad” by Mark Rubinstein.  Good luck!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I was sent a copy of the book for review.